Dear Mother and Father
I hope this letter finds you well.
I have reached Hlint Safely, there was a small problem with the journey but apart from what must have been a mirage or nightmare everything is fine. I met an elf, I'd not seen one before as you know, very friendly, named Araleth, I have also found myself spending some time with Marlena, a human of a natural persuasion. I've since met a great number of people and it has all been most intriguing.
Araleth has been teaching me to use a bow, it's very useful for fishing with, I've also found it useful against the occasional goblin too, perhaps I will come to like it however unusual it feels to operate. If I make a bow I will understand this archery better than I currently do, I am sure of it.
The local craft halls are adequate, well frequented and the tools are suitible for the work I find myself doing. With the help of a local priestess I have been creating holy water to combat the local undead population, Araleth and I have also been working on healing potions to help us with our forays into the surrounding countryside for raw materials. Araleth is a very nature oriented elf, I guess that is how elves behave, she has been most useful inhelping me find what I need, especially the clay for my animal statues I love to make.
There are some lovely caverns nearby to town, with a band of other likely smiths I ventured there to mine ore. The local inhabitants objected but as they were one of our blood enemies I was well versed in fighting them so no harm came to me. My new hammer is most effective against goblin heads and my skills with a hammer and shield are improving slowly. Despite gathering a large amount of ore my smelting efforts have yeilded little to date, a simple ingot and I feel I must get back to it so I may one day be as good with a smithing hammer as father. I am too used to clay I think, metal is harder to work with but much more worthwhile, time and practice will tell.
May Dorand watch over you Mother and Father, you are in my prayers
Gloinar Thorin Goldthew Ungart